TV WEEK: 30 MAR-5 APR
TUNE IN TO CLOSER’S PICK OF THE TELLY EVERYONE’S TALKING ABOUT WITH TV EDITOR HANNAH WRIGHT
1 THIS TOWN
GRITTY ’80S-SET DRAMA
EASTER SUN / EASTER MON, 9PM, BBC1
Peaky Blinders’ supremo Steven Knight heads back to his roots once more, with a drama set in the early ’80s, at a time of great social unrest – and the birth of the 2 Tone music scene in Birmingham and Coventry. Over six gritty parts, this tells the story of a group of friends navigating change in a time of explosive violence, with some of them forming a band. There’s poetry-writing Dante (Levi Brown), his soldier brother Gregory (Jordan Bolger) and their cousin Bardon (Ben Rose), whose dad is determined to get him involved with the IRA. The excellent cast also includes David Dawson (My Policeman) as a local gangster/ club owner, and Downton’s Michelle Dockery as Bardon’s alcoholic mum. What’s not to love?
2 AVOIDANCE
FAMILY SITCOM
FRI 5 APR, 9.30PM, BBC1
Romesh Ranganathan and Jessica Knappett return as separated parents, with series two about falling in love, messy reconciliation – and a baby... Aisling Bea and Paula Wilcox join the cast.
3 MAMMALS
ALL ABOUT SURVIVAL
EASTER SUN, 7PM, BBC1
Twenty years after Life Of Mammals, Sir David Attenborough revisits this group of animals for a new series. Full of never-before-seen behaviours, we get a new perspective on creatures ranging from a tiny shrew to a giant whale. The series will also highlight problems faced in today’s world.
4 LOOT
ACCLAIMED COMEDY WED 3 APR, APPLE TV+
The Maya Rudolph-led show makes its long-awaited return, set a year after Molly’s divorce from her tech billionaire husband. What to do with that vast fortune?
5 THE GREAT CELEBRITY BAKE OFF FOR STAND UP TO CANCER
HI JINKS AND DANCING
EASTER SUN, 7.40PM, C4
It’s the turn of Oti Mabuse, Gabby Logan, David O’Doherty and Suzi Ruffell in the tent this week – and first up is a classic ’70s dessert, the ice-cream roll. “Rolling up a sponge is not that easy,” says Prue, surprising no one. There are larks aplenty (when the bakers aren’t stressing out), and with Strictly’s Oti on board, Alison is chuffed to get a quick dance lesson thrown in too.
6 MASTERCHEF
ULTIMATE CULINARY SHOWDOWN
EASTER MON, 6.30PM / WED 3 APR, 9PM / FRI 5 APR, 7.30PM, BBC1
There’s something a little bit special about this series – it’s 20 years since Gregg Wallace and John Torode took up their places as expert eaters (or “judges”, to give them their official title) on a show originally titled MasterChef Goes Large. It was won by Thomasina Miers (now known for the mighty Mexican food chain, Wahaca), after over
